Arnold to tap major Democrat (Susan Kennedy ) to be his Chief of Staff: BREAKING!

FLASHREPORT ^ | 11-29-2005 6:02 pm | Jon Fleischman

[ElkGroveDan]

Arnold to tap major Democrat to be his Chief of Staff

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher

11-29-2005 6:02 pm

The rule of six (if I hear at least six credible people tell me something, then as a confirmed rumor, I run with it) has struck again. I previously reported on rumors that Pat Clarey, the Governor's Chief of Staff (and a loyal Republican) would be stepping aside after the special election. Read that story here.

Well, apparently the Governor has decided to name Susan Kennedy as his Chief of Staff.

I am sure that if this plays out, Kennedy will be vetted by many who know her well. I can only judge her political ideology based on her resume, which includes these highlights (seriously, I am NOT making this up):

Kennedy has spent nearly the last three years as Gray Davis' appointee to the State Public Utilities Commission. Before that, she was a Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary for the infamously recalled Governor. (Kennedy's resume on the PUC website boasts that she was responsible for 'development of $100 billion state budget)

Before working for Gray Davis, Kennedy served as Communications Director and a senior staff member to Democrat United States Senator Dianne Feinstein (where, according to her own resume, she assisted the Senator with the development of legislation and policy initiatives...).

This next paragraph is straight from her resume (how could I improve on this):

Kennedy previously served as Executive Director of the California Democratic Party and as Executive Director of the California Abortion Rights Action League. She managed two of the most successful Get-Out-The-Vote campaigns in recent California history, including the 1992 Coordinated Campaign for Clinton/Gore and the 1998 Coordinated Campaign that elected Governor Gray Davis.

Right now I am a little bit shocked by this 'confirmed rumor' - actually, I would call it a 'very confirmed rumor' at this point.

I am not sure how Governor Schwarzenegger expects Republicans to react to this appointment. This is not an appointment to some peripheral position in his administration. The Chief of Staff is the most central role on the Governor's entire staff.

I think it would be premature to comment on a rumor, even a 'very confirmed' one at this point. But you can be sure that there will be a lot of questions, frustrations, concern and anger from the base if this turns out to be true.

While Republicans are not a majority in California by a long shot, there are still many million of us out here. It doesn't seem plausible that there was not one person who could ably serve in this capacity who agrees with the Governor's general philosophy enough to register in the same political party as he does.

Well, let's see how this plays out...

Jon

PS: I will offer an open invitation to any and all, whether in the administration, or friends thereof, or friends of Susan Kennedy (or Ms. Kennedy herself if this reaches her) to reach out to me, and help me understand why this appointment should not be interpreted as the big kiss-off to the GOP base.

[EternalVigilance]

Touche.

[Hildy]

Good...Why do I even freakin care...I hate that State...that's why I left. Six months gone and they still want money from me...I told them to shove it up their asses. keep up your whining ... you all get what you deserve.

[stocksthatgoup]

Goodbye Arnold. Goodbye Republicans in California

[stocksthatgoup]

Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island
Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota
Sen. Susan Collins, Maine
Sen. Johnny Isakson, Georgia
Sen. John McCain, Arizona
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Sen. Gordon Smith, Oregon
Sen. Olympia Snowe, Maine
Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania
Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska

Bought and Paid For

[eeevil conservative]

ARG!

No surprise to see Isaskon on that list.... frickin' idiot.... traitor.... Dang I wish Zell was still in...

Still ticks me off that people don't pay attention to primaries.... Isakson won on name only...he just moved up the chain to run on the national level instead of staying at the state level-- but no doubt that Herman Cain was the BEST MAN FOR THE JOB!

[eeevil conservative]

ROFLLLL!!!

No doubt on that either! LOL!!

[EternalVigilance]

Definitely.

Herman Cain is a truly great American.

[eeevil conservative]

We have a Herman thread on Saturdays for his Live Radio show... it runs 3-6 pm (eastern)

Would you like to be added to the ping list?

[EternalVigilance]

Sure.

[eeevil conservative]

cool...done..thanks!

Herman rocks!

[CounterCounterCulture]

KEYWORDS: ONETERMINATOR

Cute. :-) And sad. :-(

[SoCalPol]

Susan Kennedy of Public Utilities / Gray Davis.
She must be an idiot leaving this on her resume.
If it had to be a Susan, I could alomst take
Susan Estrich at this point.

[lainie]

Verrry nice.

[A CA Guy]

Why are you so speechless?
We conservatives sure didn't pour out to vote in enough numbers for what Arnold had stood by in the special election for.
Arnold took it in the shorts due to conservatives being too damn busy around the state to consider voting in numbers.
Being conservatives showed in California just how pathetic we can be, what else could Arnold do now, but try and get along with Democrats through people who deal with Democrats successfully?
I voted and reminded others to vote, but the special election was a failure of California conservatives and not Arnold who at least tried to get something done.

Let's face it, many conservatives were irresponsible by not fulfilling their obligation to vote last election and Arnold personally took it in the shorts due to such people.
You don't expect Arnold to now say " may I take another in the shorts " after that, do you?

I wonder if conservatives are even bothering to try and put the initiatives Arnold had up again up for a vote in 2006?

We have no right to go all girlie and be shocked or speechless when we all failed on our end of the deal.

We failed in our personal responsibility to vote in numbers. Had WE performed, I'd get into your position, but I think need to prove ourselves in California first a hell of a lot more than the Governor.
At least the Governor shows up, OUR BASE DID NOT. So what was that about and where is our responsibility for this mess?

We need more work in California as a voting block than Arnold needs as Governor IMO. I think we put him in a horrible position.

It's like we all stuck knives in him and now we are shocked he is doing what he can to function in the state at all.

Maybe we need to all grow up a bit and shouldn't expect to have things drop in our laps for us. We need to make a change in California, it won't happen through only prayer without a conservative turn out!

Where the hell were the conservative voters? I bet that left Armold speechless more than you are now.

[A CA Guy]

The Problem isn't the Governor, it's the pathetic conservative turn out. We as a voting block are responsible and better look at our own troubles first.

Arnold had some good propositions on the ballot. Where were we to vote on them?

California conservatives couldn't have been much more lame than during the special election.

I voted, made sure others turned out to vote, but a large block felt they had no need to vote and that is pathetic.

[doug from upland]

His political career is over.

[lainie]

With respect, we didn't stick knives in him. We (conservatives) were never behind him in the first place. Moderates and wishywashers, and bandwagon democrats, in a circus election, are why Arnold became governor. None of those people were going to support those props.

[A CA Guy]

Amen, notice the pointing to Arnold, but the problem was the lack of voting from conservatives who tout personal responsibility.
It was a time for us to show some and out state was totally pathetic.
I bet the conservatives don't even have the propositions from 2005 up again for 2006.

[calcowgirl]

What is next? Tookie as attorney general?

I'm numb. Can't wait to see his Supreme Court nominee is.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Blah blah blah. No proof.